it seems i'm always considering buying an s. but heres another question. much is written about the handling and its sometimes volatile nature. having limited experience in a rear wheel drive car is it wise to have an s as a first rwd car? also, how frequent are these 'moments' when driving normally? if you stayed within the speed limit at all times for example, would this be enough to cause a slight moment?

 

It was my first RWD car since a 75bhp Talbot Avenger, and I haven't crashed yet.
In normal driving, you'll have no problems, just be careful in the wet.
Speed limits are pretty much irrelevant, and speed itself is less of a factor than acceleration and braking.

If you are sensible with it, it won't hurt you.

 

No, most issues with the car's handling are in the wet, and even then you really need to be pushing. On chilly days it helps to do a few miles and get the tyres warmed before taking any hard corners.

If you're cautious and willing to learn the car before tearing the arse off it, you will be fine.

 

if you drove within the speed limits at all times i would be very surprised if you had any 'moments'. i've had my car for 18 months and on the road have only had one moment and that was in the dry and i discovered was caused by having the wrong tyres.

even on a wet track day with worn s02's i thought the car was very predictable.

tbh, moments only tend to occur when you pile into a corner way too fast and lift off or brake suddenly when you realise your mistake. with fwd cars, that is a lot of people's normal driving style.

 

I've lost the back end of a Mazda 1.8 (the non- S version which doesn't have traction control) several times.

I haven't yet lost the back end (of the nearly twice as powerful) S2000.

 

If you're sensible you'll do a track day and find out what the limits are so you can give them a wide berth during normal driving.

It's not all doom and gloom. It's a great handling car. With time and respect you'll haev the back end out at will, arguably easier when it is wet. Nicely balanced right foot is all that is needed.

 

Speaking as someone with a hedge puncturing past - there is no problem if you are driving sensibly, within the posted speed limits - the problem is driving sensibly, within the posted speed limits

The car has very high limits which you can reach in a very short space of time - but you don't have to go mad to enjoy it. Just don't expect to get out of jail free if you're not paying attention when going 'fast'

 

It wouldn't be possible in the S!

 

The wayward back end doesn't happen because of speed.

I never drove RWD before getting the S (nor even performance cars) and I've survived nearly 3 years.

The best way I can describe it is not to drive the car like a boyracer in a hot hatch, ie violent inputs to brakes/steering/throttle. Everything must be smooth and progressive, including lifting off the throttle.

You also to have to be very appreciative of the road surface you are driving on and the suitability of your tyres for it.

To drive the car hard you need a lot of concentration, but I enjoy this aspect of it and therefore don't find it stressful. If you're just driving "normally" you don't have anything to worry about as long as you don't do anything sudden, ie accelerate hard out of a junction in the wrong conditions, or lift off/brake when you carry too much speed into a bend in error. Driving at speed in standing water is also a depending on what tyres you have on.

 

I could get the back end out at 5mph.